How to Hit a Home Run in a Slow Pitch

Hitting a home run in slow pitch softball is a little more difficult than in fast pitch versions of the game. While it is much easier to make contact with the ball, you need more power to get the ball over the fence, since the pitch has little power of its own. While the most important thing you can do is gain strength so that you naturally hit the ball harder, a proper swing can increase your distance substantially.

Place both of your hands on the bottom of the bat, one on top of the other. If the pitcher is to your left, your right hand should be on top, and vice-versa. You can position your bottom hand an inch or two up form the bottom of the bat for more control, or you can slide your hand down so that the bottom hand is really gripping the knob at the bottom. Take practice swings until you feel comfortable with your hand position.

Bring the bat behind and above you, until your hands are close to your back ear. Bend your knees slightly. Stay in this position until the pitcher throws the ball.

Rotate your hips away from the pitcher and shift your weight onto your back foot. Keep your head facing the ball during this process, as it will be difficult to hit if you lose sight of it. The power in a swing comes from your hips, so if you want to hit a home run, you need to rotate your hips as far as they can go without forcing your head to turn.

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Shift your weight forward and turn your hips toward the pitcher as the ball approaches the plate. Some players like to take a small step forward during this process, but that is optional and doesn’t really increase power. Once you rotate your hips, your arms will naturally start coming down, so bring them down hard in a swinging motion and make contact with the ball. In order to hit a home run, you will need to hit the underside of the ball and swing slightly upward. The ball will go the furthest when it is struck by the “sweet spot” on the bat, which is a few inches from the top.

Follow through your swing and bring your arms around your body. You can let go of the bat with one hand if it makes your follow-through easier. Make sure that you bring the bat around to the other side of your body, because if you don’t follow through on your swing, you may inadvertently stop swinging early and lose power.